Overview and Common Failures
The body is made of thin metal, but it withstands domestic use well and scratches do not rust for a long time. The edge of the fifth door is the most affected by corrosion. The headlights are weak and quickly become cloudy, and the mirrors are constantly loose.
Interior
The interior plastic is quite good, but it quickly gets scratched, and the markings on the frequently used buttons wear off, so you have to press them randomly. The leather upholstery on the seats and steering wheel is not durable. There are some electrical problems, with complaints about failures of certain buttons, especially the stereo.
Engines
The 1.8-liter gasoline engine with the F18D4 index is well-known to us from the Cruze model, and it has the same issues here: leaks in the heat exchanger, quick failure of variable valve timing regulators, as well as low lifespan of spark plugs and ignition coils. People also complain about sluggish performance.
The 2.0-liter diesel engine with the Z20D1 index is rare, and that's its main drawback. It can be difficult to find specialists who will repair the fuel system, which is reliable but will eventually require intervention.
Transmission
The fairly powerful manual transmission M32-5 or MZ0 has only one unpleasant affliction: when driving for a long time in fifth gear, the gearbox overheats and the bearings on the layshaft wear out quickly. If your transmission has already started making noise, expensive repairs are imminent. Buying a used unit is not easy, as there are many variations.
The 6T40 automatic transmission had numerous inherent problems, but the manufacturer gradually solved them. Therefore, the newer the automatic transmission, the more reliable it is. All its issues are described in a separate article.
Chassis
The suspension here is quite reliable, and the only parts that may need replacement before 100,000 km are the stabilizer struts. However, the cost of original spare parts is not pleasing, but luckily there are quality alternatives. There are no particular complaints about the steering or brakes.
